The first part of Case 3 focuses on growing environmental awareness, particularly in relation to life below sea. Following the publication of Rachel Carson's landmark work Silent Spring in 1962, the latter half of the 20th century saw the emergence of the modern environmental movement, the aims of which have contributed significantly to the formation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Carson, Rachel. Under the Sea-Wind: A Naturalist's Picture of Ocean Life. Illustrated by C. F. Tunnicliffe. London: Staples Press Limited, 1952. [Cooke Collection]
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was an American marine biologist, writer and conservationist, Carson's writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement.
Prior to the publication of Silent Spring (1962), she was best known for her sea trilogy. The first book in the series, Under the Sea-Wind, was originally published in 1941 by Simon and Schuster.
Carson, Rachel. The Sea Around Us. London: Staples Press, 1951. [Cooke Collection]
The Sea Around Us, the second book in Carson's sea trilogy, stayed on The New York Times best-seller list for a record 86 weeks, and won the National Book award for non-fiction in 1952, and the John Burroughs Award for nature writing. Following its publication Rachel Carson became the voice of public science in America, an internationally recognised authority on oceans, and established her reputation as a nature writer. The final book in her sea trilogy, The Edge of the Sea, was published in 1955.
In 1991 the Rachel Carson Prize was established, and it is awarded to women who have contributed in the field of environmental protection. The 2019 recipient of the Rachel Carson Prize is Greta Thunberg.
Greenpeace. Nuclear Free Seas: A Campaign to Stop the Nuclear Arms Race at Sea. London: Greenpeace, [1988]. [de Courcy Ireland Collection]
Greenpeace was founded in 1971. It is one of the most recognisable environmental organisations in the world and has played a significant role in raising awareness around environmental issues.
Greenpeace. An Illustrated Chronicle of the Greenpeace Flagship, Rainbow Warrior: Her Voyages and Campaigns Around the World in Defence of the Environment. [Greenpeace Communications Ltd.], [1989]. [de Courcy Ireland Collection]
The Greenpeace Flagship, Rainbow Warrior, ran campaigns against whaling, seal hunting, nuclear testing, and nuclear waste dumping during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1985, French secret service agents planted two bombs and sank the Rainbow Warrior. One crew member was killed.
Greenpeace. Southern Ocean Sanctuary: A Plan to Protect the Great Whales and Restore the Antarctic Marine Ecosystem. [U.K.]: Greenpeace, [1993]. [de Courcy Ireland Collection]
Whales are an essential part of the ecological balance of our oceans, they are the top of the food chain and also capture carbon from the atmosphere.
The Southern Ocean was declared a whale sanctuary in 1994. It is estimated over 300,000 dolphins and whales are killed each year due to harmful fishing practices.
Sherkin Island Marine Station. Tackling Pollution of Inland and Coastal Waters. Sherkin Island, Co. Cork: Sherkin Island Marine Station, 2003. [Munster Printing Collection]
Sherkin Island Marine Station was founded in 1975 by Matt and Eileen Murphy. The independently run station was active until 2015, during which time it conducted survey work and ran a series of environmental conferences. Topics of conferences included the exploitation of marine resources, the fish farming industry, pollution and waste management, water supply and quality, infrastructure development, and recycling.
